If you have small children, you probably already know that it can be a real chore to feed them. This is especially true if they are picky about what food they will and will not eat. It is important to ensure your children get enough nutrition from their food and luckily, there are ways of convincing them to eat even if they don't want to. It is a good idea to have a few favorite dishes on standby, such as crockpot chicken noodle soup, hotdogs, pizza, homemade chicken noodle soup, and chicken nuggets with cheesy mashed potatoes.
Even though it may be a chore, when you are preparing dinner, prepare several different dishes so your child has choice of what he or she wants. You could try asking them what they are in the mood for on occasion to get a guaranteed winner night with no fitting over them eating anything let alone enough.
It is a good idea to encourage your child to sample everything you prepare. Many children don't like the look of a food ("it's a yucky color" or "it's looks slimy" are common excuses) but your child won't know what the food tastes like until he tries it, so encourage him to take a no thank you bite. In this way, he will get to taste the food and he might actually like it and ask for more.
Another good way to convince your children to eat is to give their food the names of their favorite fictional or cartoon characters. Bart Simpson Stew or Special Spiderman Salad will bring a smile to your child's face and encourage him to eat the meal. Children identify with shows they like and if they think they are eating cartoon foods, they will be happy to finish the meal.
It is a good idea to make colorful dishes. You could use red, green, and yellow peppers and call the dish Christmas casserole for example. Corn, broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes all add color.
Children are very particular and even though they are little, they know what they like. If something does not look appetizing to them, you will have very little chance of getting them to eat it. They do not understand that it is good for them; they depend on you for that.
If you enjoy cooking, you can involve your child in the preparation. If a child is able to be part of the cooking process, they are far more likely to enjoy the results because they are proud to have helped to create it. They would prefer homemade chicken noodle soup, which they have helped with to "the stuff in the red and white can."
If you know your child does not like something and it is a necessary ingredient, then wait until he or she is out of the room and run it through the food processor until it is finely ground up and then add it to the pot. He or she will never know it is there.
When you are feeding a child, sometimes these alternative methods help. The main thing is to be flexible while still providing adequate nutrition. Simple meals like chicken noodle soup, lasagna or grilled meat with a sauce and vegetables provide excellent nutritional value. Nobody wants dinner to be a battleground and if you follow these tips, it doesn't have to be. - 16003
Even though it may be a chore, when you are preparing dinner, prepare several different dishes so your child has choice of what he or she wants. You could try asking them what they are in the mood for on occasion to get a guaranteed winner night with no fitting over them eating anything let alone enough.
It is a good idea to encourage your child to sample everything you prepare. Many children don't like the look of a food ("it's a yucky color" or "it's looks slimy" are common excuses) but your child won't know what the food tastes like until he tries it, so encourage him to take a no thank you bite. In this way, he will get to taste the food and he might actually like it and ask for more.
Another good way to convince your children to eat is to give their food the names of their favorite fictional or cartoon characters. Bart Simpson Stew or Special Spiderman Salad will bring a smile to your child's face and encourage him to eat the meal. Children identify with shows they like and if they think they are eating cartoon foods, they will be happy to finish the meal.
It is a good idea to make colorful dishes. You could use red, green, and yellow peppers and call the dish Christmas casserole for example. Corn, broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes all add color.
Children are very particular and even though they are little, they know what they like. If something does not look appetizing to them, you will have very little chance of getting them to eat it. They do not understand that it is good for them; they depend on you for that.
If you enjoy cooking, you can involve your child in the preparation. If a child is able to be part of the cooking process, they are far more likely to enjoy the results because they are proud to have helped to create it. They would prefer homemade chicken noodle soup, which they have helped with to "the stuff in the red and white can."
If you know your child does not like something and it is a necessary ingredient, then wait until he or she is out of the room and run it through the food processor until it is finely ground up and then add it to the pot. He or she will never know it is there.
When you are feeding a child, sometimes these alternative methods help. The main thing is to be flexible while still providing adequate nutrition. Simple meals like chicken noodle soup, lasagna or grilled meat with a sauce and vegetables provide excellent nutritional value. Nobody wants dinner to be a battleground and if you follow these tips, it doesn't have to be. - 16003
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Want a delicious chicken soup recipe why not try our chicken noodle soup recipe or one of the dozens of our other tasty soup recipes.
